Did Barack Obama do this?

Oh, I have to blog this before I forget and before I die from laughing after stifling the laugh when Grace actually said the following:
At dinner tonight we were talking about Christmas. I started by talking about how we need to do something for others, one of my ideas was to put together a box for a solider or two off the www.anysolider.com website or others that send care packages to soliders. From this, a discussion ensued ( as Grant was wolfing down more pasta and eating red peppers), in which, Grace learned that there was a war in Iraq, a simplified version of why it started, and a more complex discussion of what kinds of things soliders are doing now and what the insurgents are and why they are killing others.... As Grace pondered this, she starting asking what was happening to the mothers and children and were they dying- ouch, this was a deep question, and I had to gulp to answer it- in reality, I stalled and let Ryan take that heavy one. ( This is not the funny part of my story by the way....)
So, that was how it all started and I thought we were making great headway.
Then we launched into a tangent about Santa and what the kids were asking Santa for this year. I also started with a disclaimer of how the economy was affecting everyone, INCLUDING SANTA- meaning that Santa was having to help out lots of parents around the world more than ever, so it was best to be thoughtful and not be greedy- AFTER ALL, CHRISTMAS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT GIVING...
We really are trying to scale back our Christmas this year- I'm a bit weary from the materialism of our society, and I'm really trying to be better. I'm also done shopping - except for this dilema with Grace as you'll read...
Anyway, Grace has suddenly gotten interested in the American Girl Dolls- which are great if you're into them, but I really think it will be a waste of $$ because I just don't see this as something to grab her attention for any length of time- and I really think the $150 is sleep for the doll and accessories.
TANGENT #2: I have to leap here and fill you in on the other part of my brain and the struggle with the American Girl dilema. I grew up in a time when Cabbage Patch Dolls were all the rage- I was a bit too old, but I would have appreciated one I think- It was also the time of the ORIGINAL Strawberry Shortcake smell dolls with the hair, clothes and fabulous stuff. I also have a sister who is 4 years younger. We love our mother, but for reasons the universe only knows, she was more attracted to the HOMEADE ( meaning crocheted) versions of these popular dolls- My sister had 2 cabbage patch dolls ( knock offs) that were handmade and had nylon faces and stuffed arms and legs. I wished for the Strawberry Shortcake Dolls ( real versions) but ended up with the dolls with crocheted clothes and nylon faces with no smell whatsoever. I'm trying not to be an ingrate, but you know, these "old lady" creations were just not the same. Not something you're dying to bring out with the neighbor girls. So, here is my dilema with the American Girl Dolls- will my daughter have a crochet- or worse be a girl who never experienced the American Girl fun growing up? I also didn't have an Easy Bake oven, Barbies, and I'm sure other stuff I just missed as a child :-) Boo Hoo.

Back to my story... ( present day)
So after the Santa discussion, we told Grace that Santa really thinks about what kids will enjoy and need and sometimes its not what is #1 on your list- "After all, you didnt' have a hedgehodge on your list last year" ( you must go back to that post with the Christmas Letter from last year if you're wondering what I'm talking about- look for July 2008). We continued to talk about the economy and how some people dont' have jobs and etc. Then she WAILED "DID BARACK OBAMA DO THIS????". I almost bit my tongue off. Luckily, Ryan had more composure than I and was able to explain that it had nothing to do with Obama- she then said, "Why did this have to happen at Christmas?"- Uh, its been going on for over a year- Summer was worse with $4+ gas prices!
She continued to grouch, and we said when Santa called to talk to us about her gift, we'd tell him never mind. ( We have a DIRECT line to Santa by the way!- Its powerful. We consult with him through the season.)
After doing her spelling words she then said she'd write out her list, and maybe since she's taken care of Tommy the hedgehog and shown Santa that she can care for him, she might get a fish this year.
I'm going to have her write a list of a few items and see what the final word is.

Grant by the way- did not engage in this discussion, he's pretty used to Grace's drama. He has his own at other intervals. He has asked for a Star Wars Bed- he happened to see a picture in a catalog- and has been asking for that ever since. There is no way he's getting a new bed,he doesn't need one, but I did start to check into the bedding. The more expensive option is with Pottery Barn- the only other cheaper option is at Target- but I went online and read the reviews and they were sad but hilarious!
One mom posted that " my son begged for Star Wars sheets, and I went the cheaper route at Target and I'm really sorry we did- he says that his "bed hurts him" and in order to sleep in the sheets, he has to wrap up in a blanket and then get into bed.
After that, I decided this might be a case when its better to get higher quality- So, Santa is bringing Grant Star Wars Sheets and I'm still wondering if that is completely random gift for a 4 year old- they do look pretty cool- I don't think this is the same level as the crocheted dolls ... RIGHT?

Here is the link to the crochet cabbage patch dolls and clothese in case you want to traumatize your daughter....
http://www.geocities.com/smwcrochet/cabbagepatchclothes.html

The Dangers of Duct Tape

 

This photo documents 2 critical events-
Notice the large chunk of hair missing from the front of Grant's hair. Here is he story of how that happened- One night I was getting the kids into bed and on the bathroom floor I saw what looked like a chunk of hair- Grace quickly picked it up and tried to throw it in the trash- She then quickly confessed that she had cut Grant's hair- after which I immediately freaked out- she said that she had been playing with duct tape and had put some in Grant's hair. She couldn't get it out without him crying ( duh!), so she got the scissors and cut it out!
I then found Grant and saw the missing chunk right there in front.
Luckily he had a haircut coming up-
This is the second critical event- because as you may or may not remember, he's allergic to his own hair. This was the best haircut yet!

Here are a few photos - some of which will be blackmail later

 
 
 
 

Here's brief explanation-

Dress Up: A pasttime that is enjoyed by all- Grant might enjoy it a bit too much, but I also think his sister bosses him into it. Can you say High School Yearbook photo?

Karate: The kids are both in karate. And, at times, this is how Grant feels about it. It just happens to be at a time of day when he is tired from school, usually has low blood sugar and is ready to be at home. And, I guess, sometimes this is a picture of how he deals with life. He gets the drama from his sister, I think she gives him weekly lessons.

Mosquitos

Grant is all boy- most of the time. However, he is deathly afraid of mosquitos for some strange reason. I guess during the summer, there was a mosquito eater on the wall of the bathroom one night during his bath. He completely freaked out.. and now he randomly becomes paranoid-level afraid of them. Tonight he refused to go in the bathroom because of the mosquito fear. "Mom, I think there is a mosquito in the bathroom will you PLEASE PLEASE go in there with me?" We tried to explain that mosquitos are dead now- its too cold, and further that the REALLY big looking ones eat the mosquitos, and that really Grant, you are bigger than the mosquito and you can run faster-
all to no avail, I still had to do a clean sweep of the bathroom tonight.

Ok, So I'm only a month behind

I'm behind, which seems to be the story of my life. We've had a busy Fall. Its sad when your 7 year old tells you in the car " you and dad are the only parents in my class that travel a lot, well, except for Hayden's dad- he goes to Arizona- but you guys travel a lot, I mean you go for longer". Before you report us, let me atleast explain our side- This Fall has been really busy for us, its usually a busy time of year- it seems its a good time to have Speech and Hearing conferences.
In early October, I headed the Oregon Speech Language Hearing Association Conference in Salem for 3 days. I came home in time to see Ryan head out for Italy for a week, then mid week I left for Washington DC for a National Licensing conference. We were finally together at the end of October for a few weeks. The American Speech and Hearing Conference is always the weekend before Thanksgiving - which is possibly the worst possible time to have it, but they must get some kind of great rate because the date never changes. The conference was in Chicago, so I was out there for about 5 days. IT was freezing cold there! The high was 9-12degrees with a windchill on top of that of 10-15 degrees! In Chicago, no one makes fun of you for wearing big scarves, hats and earmuffs. Initially I looked at people kind of oddly, but after walking around freezing to death, I bought some gear and bundled myself. Fashionistas are just idiots in Chicago if they don't bundle up. Then it was back home for about 2 days, and we just got back from a roadtrip to Boise to see Grandma, Grandpa and my crazy family for Thanksgiving. All went well- considering no one got seriously hurt and there were not weapons brought out. I'm half kidding about this.
We did have to partake of some wild game while we were there- and I'm not referring to the turkey at Thanksgiving.
We started a tiny white lie- when the kids asked if we were eating "steak" we said yes, then as they persisted, this lie morphed into "eating steer". This was acceptable until someone blew it and then my dad didn't realize the phonics skills that 7 year olds have- he said " if you take away "st" and add a "d"- almost immediately Grace put it together and shouted "We're eating deer!". I wanted to throw up. My dad said he didn't know what happened to me, I used to eat wild game all the time (my response: I really didn't have a choice growing up").
The other highlights-( as the kids recounted tonight)
Grant: getting bucked off the horse with Charlie his cousin- then he said, " Why didn't Charlie's dad catch him when the horse bucked Dad?" - ( Charlie may need therapy for that)- luckily no one was hurt- I wasn't there, I was out shopping on Black Friday. Ryan did catch Grant and tried to break Charlie's fall.

Grace: I really liked it when I got to pull that thing on the tow truck... I also like swimming.

Tow Truck- no, we luckily did not have problems on the trip- however, here is a brief summary of how we got involved with a tow truck.

On the way to Boise, a neighbor and I discovered that we were heading out to the same location for Thanksgiving. Her husband was working until Wednesday midday, we were heading out on Tuesday, so she and her 2 boys rode over with us. The trip was uneventful and went well.

On the way back to Portland- We got a call from this same friend, they were stuck on the side of the road 25 miles ahead. We eventually caught up to them, their van was broken down, we called AAA on our membership, waited an hour for the tow truck, waited another half hour for her brother to pick her up and take her back to his house ( where she still remains while the van is fixed) - and packed her husband ( whom we had not met prior to shaking hands on the side of the road) in our van with all of our stuff and 2 kids.
You know how when you travel with your kids, you might say things when you're alone in the car for 7 hours that you really can't say in front of strangers- well, that was how things went. It was a long trip- the husband slept most of the time or pretended to- and of course there was a long back up in the Gorge- which added another hour and half to the trip.
WE ARE SO GLAD TO BE HOME ALONE IN OUR OWN HOUSE!

* For 2 hours today we thought Ryan was going to Israel next week, but luckily, we've avoided that for now. The Italians have to cover that trip. ( really, they live in Italy)